Solar power

Solar power

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics convert light into electric current using the photoelectric effect.

Industry: Energy

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Solar power

solar insolation

Energy; Solar power

See insolation.

deep-cycle battery

Energy; Solar power

A battery with large plates that can withstand many discharges to a low state-of-charge.

solar irradiance

Energy; Solar power

See irradiance.

deep discharge

Energy; Solar power

Discharging a battery to 20% or less of its full charge capacity.

solar noon

Energy; Solar power

The time of the day, at a specific location, when the sun reaches its highest, apparent point in the sky; equal to true or due, geographic south.

depth of discharge (DOD)

Energy; Solar power

The ampere-hours removed from a fully charged cell or battery, expressed as a percentage of rated capacity. For example, the removal of 25 ampere-hours from a fully charged 100 ampere-hours rated ...